Adrian Chiles 'could leave Daybreak next week' after being axed by ITV

The host – who, alongside Christine Bleakley, was axed from the show at the end of November because of its poor ratings – has reportedly told producers: 'It's over. Let's move on.'

After Daybreak, Adrian will continue to front part of ITV's football coverage and his chat programme That Sunday Night Show, while Christine is to become co-presenter of Dancing on Ice with Philip Schofield when it returns next January.

Bosses are still trying to decide if Daybreak will screen a compilation of the presenters' best moments on the show as a send off.

A source told The Sun newspaper: 'I think they'd both rather just go quietly.'

Adrian and Christine were just one year into their three-year £2 million apiece deal when they were sacked and there are said to have been 'heated behind-the-scenes discussions' over whether they would receive a full pay out.

A source said: 'If their agent thought he could hold the channel to ransom then he's found that ITV actually holds the trump card. It has been quite fraught.'

New Daybreak boss David Kermode starts on the show today and is planning a total overhaul.